Welcome to Transfigurations! This blog is intended to serve the orthodox Anglican community and the wider Christian community. We pray that all that is posted here will be faithful to the Scriptures as the inspired word of God, speak the truth in love, edify, bless and transform this local body of Christ, and be an impetus for revival, repentance, prayer and intercession!

Tuesday, August 08, 2017

Christians watching Game Of Thrones: China censors Winnie the Pooh...more

A day later, Adam emailed to ask, “Pastor John, what would you say to a Christian who watches the cable TV show Game of Thrones?” This is a television series rated TV-MA, and has become rather infamous for its explicit nudity and sex scenes, and for graphic scenes of rape and sexual violence against women. Game of Thrones is now the most popular series in HBO history, with an average audience of more than 23 million viewers.

What follows is a lightly edited transcript of John Piper’s response...

and

I Don’t Understand Christians Watching Game of Thrones ...I know some people will say it doesn’t bother their conscience or that it’s art or they can view sinful sex without participating in it themselves. But that doesn’t change what the Bible says about the importance of purity and the power of the eye. The fact is our consciences should be smitten; steamy sex scenes are not the kind of art for which we can give thanks; and it’s hard to imagine Paul would have been cool with the believers in Ephesus watching simulated sex for a fee each month, so long as they don’t hook up in real life...

Disney cartoon features lesbian ‘moms,’ promotes gay ‘marriage’ to preschoolers An August 5 episode of the Disney Junior show Doc McStuffins, which is aimed at preschoolers, featured two lesbian "moms" as the heads of a family...The LGBT advocacy group GLAAD launched a petition asking people to "thank Disney for elevating LGBTQ voices." ...The episode promotes same-sex "marriage" in a "beautiful and positive way," wrote Sarah Kate Ellis, the President and CEO of GLAAD. "Shows like this reflect our real world, and today that includes the many children being raised by gay and lesbian parents who are all going to celebrate this story."...

The Chinese name for and images of the plump, cute cartoon character are being blocked on social media sites here because bloggers have been comparing him to China's president.

When Xi Jinping and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe endured one of the more awkward handshakes in history netizens responded with Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore shaking hands...Prof lets students choose own grades for 'stress reduction' ..According to online course syllabi for two of Dr. Richard Watson’s fall business courses, he has introduced the policy because “emotional reactions to stressful situations can have profound consequences for all involved.”...

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome on the Rise
The incidence of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome has increased with the loosening of marijuana laws in the United States, according to a new study presented at the 2017 Digestive Disease Week (abstract Tu1688).

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and cyclic vomiting syndrome are barely known to physicians and characterized by recurrent episodes of heavy nausea, vomiting and frequent abdominal pain. Complete and persistent resolution of all symptoms of the disease following cannabis cessation is the only reliable criterion applicable to distinguish cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome from cyclic vomiting syndrome (Ger Med Sci 2017;15:Doc06).

Researchers said raising awareness of some of the medical problems that can occur with the use of cannabis is critical...